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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Man,
time flies when you are having fun. In case you have forgotten, after
two summers of driving at least 19,000 miles to have a hot dog at
each of the 30 MLB ballparks, I took last summer off and watched A
LOT of games on MBLTV (which is totally worth the price by the way).
I designed a hot dog for each team/stadium that somehow depicted
their personality. Sometimes it was a player that inspired me,
sometimes the team name or their location. I would then eat that hot
dog while watching them on MLBTV (did I mention it is well worth the
price?). I called it the Virtual Baseball Tour, or VBT for short.

I
intended to be finished by the end of the regular season. But like
some writers get writer's block, hot dog creators can also get wiener
block. I moved the deadline to the end of post season play, then the
new year, and then to the start of the 2017 season. And I am proud
and embarrassed to say that, after moving the deadline several times,
I/we have finished our VBT. A hot dog creation and a beer pairing for
the same are in the archives of this blog. All you have to do is
scroll backwards. Here is a reminder of the dog delicacies in case
you have forgotten (in the order they were posted):

Pittsburgh
Pirates-The Willie Stargell

Toronto
Blue Jay-The Pizza Dog

San
Francisco Giants-The Golden Gate Dog

Chicago
White Sox-The Zloty Dog

St
Louis Cardinals-The Hill Dog

Detroit
Tigers-The Delhi Dog

Los
Angeles Dodgers-The Vin Scully

Oakland
A's-The BART Dog

Chicago
Cubs-The Underdog

Colorado
Rockies-The Mile High Dog

Arizona
Diamondbacks-The Snotty Sonoran

San
Diego Padres-The Poor Man's Surf and Turf

Tampa
Bay Rays-The Cool Ray Dog

Minnesota
Twins-The Double Dog Dare Dog

Cincinnati
Reds-The Breakfast of Champions Dog

Cleveland
Indians-The Ricky Vaughn

Milwaukee
Brewers-The Beer Brat Dog

Miami
Marlins-The Big Fish Dog

New
York Mets-The Big Apple

Baltimore
Orioles-The Sponge Bob

Seattle
Mariners-The Sushi Dog

Boston
Red Sox-The Green Monster

Los
Angeles Angels-All Dogs Go to Heaven

Washington
Nationals-The Politician

Houston
Astros-The Apollo 13

Philadelphia
Phillies-The Balboa Dog

Kansas
City Royals-The Meat Bomb

New
York Yankees-The Fugetaboutit

Atlanta
Braves-The Dixie Dog

Texas
Rangers-The Nolan Ryan

I had
a lot of fun creating these dogs, I hope you tried at least a few. If
not, the recipes live forever in cyberspace on this blog.

That
makes two trips to all 30 MLB ballparks in two consecutive summers,
not to mention a TON of minor league stadiums. Then the summer of the
VBT. What's next? I will continue to update you on hot dog happenings
in and around all of baseball. There is always new and crazy dog
coming out. And I have a serious backlog of Hot Dog Hotspots to get
out to you. I am also planning an April minor league road trip mainly
in the Carolinas and surrounding area. If you live near a ballpark in
the southeast, drop me a line and maybe we can catch some action at
the diamond together. Or you can introduce me to the best hot dog in
your town. Oh, and I will be catching some Grapefruit League spring
training games in Florida in late March.

But as
of first pitch for the regular season I will be a broken man. It's a
really cool thing to say that you have caught a game at EVERY major
league ballpark. But when the 2017 season opens, I will have only
been to 29 of 30. The Atlanta Braves are setting up shop in new digs
called Sun Trust Park this season. I have one chance to catch a game
there on my road trip: April 19. But with it being a new ballpark and
early in the season, it will be tough to get a ticket without having
to sell a kidney. But hey, I have two kidneys and only really need
one, so it's possible. Atlanta Braves, if you are listening, do a
brother a solid and sell me a ticket for under $30. I am not picky
about seat location.

So
here's to a great 2017 season. There's new grass on the field and
baseball has never been better. But it is ALWAYS better when watched
with a dog in your hand.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

If you
watched baseball in the late 1960's, all of the 70s, 80s and much of
the 90s you know who Nolan Ryan is. He holds the MLB record for
career strikeouts and pitched an incredible SEVEN, that's right
SEVEN, no hitters. He was in the top few of the dominate pitchers in
FOUR decades of baseball. His weapon of choice? A blazing fastball
which, according to some calculations, is the fastest ever thrown. He
was also an anomaly, having a career that lasted so long. He also
dished out one of the best thumpings ever caught on video as he
pummeled Chicago White Sox player Robin Ventura when he charged the
mound Nolan was standing on.

A
Texas native, he is also a beef rancher. Along with his many baseball
executive duties, he also sells high quality beef. Know what he does
with those high quality beef trimmings left over from the process? He
makes high quality, all-beef HOT DOGS. That's right, Nolan Ryan is in
the hot dog business. It just keeps getting better with this guy.

While
he played for several teams, Nolan is best remembered for his stint
with the Texas Rangers, and as a Texan I am naming the hot dog for
the Rangers after him. Drum roll as we prepare to describe The
Nolan Ryan.

If you
are a baseball fan you know that fastballs are known as heaters. As
in “bring me the heat.” It was Ryan's signature pitch and why the
Nolan Ryan dog is all about the heat. It is simple....and hot.

Take a
bun of your choice and put in, if possible, a Nolan Ryan all-beef
frank. This is probably the only time I won't recommend a Hebrew
National as my first choice. But Nolan Ryan franks are very regional,
usually only available in the greater Texas area. So if you can't get
one, use a Hebrew National. Then put in some red chili sauce, hot
sauce of your choice, and top with jalapenos and onions. Bite in and
enjoy the heat that is symbolic of Nolan Ryan's flame throwing arm.

Beer
pairing: Arlington is deep in the heart of Texas, so I have chosen
Shiner Beer. The beer of Texas. It is cheap, crisp and goes well with
any hot food. Normally, I'd say grab a six pack, but with this hot
dog's temperature, pick up a case.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Time
for the dog that does dual purpose. When I came up with the idea of
creating a hot dog for every ballpark, the Atlanta Braves were
playing at Turner Field. Now that ancient stadium has been abandoned
by the Braves. It was all of 17 years old (as a baseball venue). Now
the Braves are moving into ultramodern new digs called Sun Trust
Park. While no one loves new ballparks more than I, I also believe in
retiring them when they are no longer viable. Wrigley Field in
Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston are both over one hundred years
young for comparison.

But
it's still the Braves, and you know where Atlanta is? In the deep
south, that's where. Sometimes called Dixie. In Dixie everything
tasted good if it's fried. And they love their barbecue as well. Toss
in some potato salad and you have yourself a delicious down home
southern meal. That's why it's all on the Dixie Dog.

Start
with a large bun; you're going to need it. Grill the bun, put in a
Hebrew National all-beef frank, put a few strips of fried chicken on
top of that, douse in BBQ sauce, cover with potato salad and then
sprinkle on as much fried okra as your bun will allow. It's
everything Dixie loves on a plate, but on a bun. Extra credit if you
can find a copy of Hee Haw on VHS to watch while eating. And
don't blame me if your speech has a drawl after eating.

Beer
pairing: None other than Dixie Beer of course. It's a good cheap beer
available throughout the south. It used to be brewed in New Orleans,
but the brewery took a real beating (and flooding) during Hurricane
Katrina. It plans to reopen someday, and buying a few six packs of
Dixie will help that day come sooner. At present, it is contract
brewed at other locations. But nothing will make your meal feel more
south of the Mason-Dixon Line than washing this dog down with a
Dixie.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Ahhh,
the New York Yankees. A team you either love or hate. In fact, one of
my favorite teams is whoever plays the Yankees. Not a fan. Not a fan
of Yankee Stadium either. It looks a lot like old Yankee Stadium, of
which I was also not a fan. Hate the New York weather, it's either
too hot or too cold, and the crowds are horrendous. So what do I like
about New York? The food. New York City is like the epicenter of an
international food explosion. You can get ANY type of food at ANY
hour of the day. If food it your thing, New York is for you.

You
know what else New York is famous for? The strong accent and slang of
its residents. You hear a New Yorker in a bar in Hong Kong and you
immediately place the speaker as a visitor from the Big Apple. Food
and accent is what makes the hot dog for Yankee Stadium. Allow me to
introduce The Fugetaboutit. It combines one of New York's most
memorable catch phrases (say “forget about it” as one long word
after you have had twelve beers and you get the picture), with the
knish, an iconic eastern European snack that has made a new home in
NYC.

A
knish is a dough pastry stuffed with any combination of sauerkraut,
ground beef, mashed potatoes, and diced grilled onions. To make one,
get the best sub roll you can find, slightly grill it on a skillet
and then slap in a Hebrew National all-beef frank. Top the frank with
mashed potatoes, sprinkle on ground beef, some grilled onions, a row
of kraut and then add a meandering stream of spicy brown mustard. The
knish tastes delish, and it's all on a hot dog. Unlike the Yankees,
this dog is a winner and you don't have to brave the subway to enjoy
one at home. And if you think you can give me any grief over dissing
the Yankees....fugetaboutit.

Beer
pairing: Try a Saranac Adirondack Lager if you can get your hands on
one. It is brewed upstate in Utica but embodies the freshness of the
Adirondack mountains and washes down a knish on a bun like no other.

Welcome

This blog serves to chronicle the host's travels to ballparks in search of the best hot dog a fan can experience. It is a mixture of baseball, Americana and the food that binds the two together...the hot dog. Your comments are most welcome. PLAY BALL!